God works in ways that often surprise us, reaching into hearts and drawing people to Himself in circumstances we might never expect. Recently, we saw this truth unfold in a very real way through Tom, who faithfully runs Alpha courses from our shop.
A young man, stirred by a prompting he felt was from God, walked into Brightons Church where Tom worships. He came not because someone had persuaded him, but because he sensed God himself urging him to “find out about God.”
One of Tom’s friends, Ian, signposted the young man toward the Alpha course and when Tom heard his story, he immediately responded by setting up an Alpha course for him.
During the Alpha course, the young man asked questions, listened, and learned about the hope we have in Jesus Christ. At the end of that course, Annabella, Tom’s wife, had the joy of leading him in prayer as he gave his life to the Lord.
What a beautiful reminder that “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” – Luke 19:10. Just as Jesus sought out Zacchaeus in the tree, or Philip was sent to the Ethiopian official on a desert road – Acts 8:26–40, God still meets people today in unique and personal ways. He is not bound by place, time, or circumstance. His Spirit continues to draw people, whispering to hearts, stirring curiosity, and guiding seekers to find Him.
Every life is precious in God’s eyes. Psalm 139:13–14 tells us that each of us is “fearfully and wonderfully made.” The angels themselves rejoice when even one person turns to Him: “there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” – Luke 15:7. Today, we too celebrate alongside heaven as this young man begins his new journey of faith.
May his story encourage us to stay open to the ways God is working, through conversations, through small acts of faithfulness like Tom’s willingness to start a course at short notice, and through the quiet courage of those who step forward to say, “I want to know God.”
